Combined electrical and tubular organ-action.



No. 643,840. Patented Feb. '20, I900. W. B. FLEMING.

COMBINED ELECTRICAL AND TUBULAR ORGAN ACTION.

(Application filed June 11, 1898.) (No Model.) 3 Sheeis--Sheet I.

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No. 643,840. Patented Feb. '20, I900.

'W. B. FLEMING. COMBINED ELECTRICAL AND TUBULAR QRGANAGTION.

(Application filed June 11, 1898.); I (No Model.) 7 3. Sheets-Sheet 2,

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I No. 643,840; Patented Feb. 20, I900.

- W. B. FLEMING. COMBINED ELECTRICAL AND TUBULAR ORGAN ACTION.

V (Application filed June 11, 1898.) I (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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- Fig. 3 is a detail view in elevation showing UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

IVILLIAH B. FLEMING, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

COMBINED ELECTRICAL AND TUBULAR ORGAN-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,840, dated February 20, 1900.

Application filed June 11,1898.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM B. FLEMING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in a Combined Electrical and Tubular Action for Pipe-Organs; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, which'form a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object a combined electrical and tubular action for pipe-organs, either one of which may be employed at the will of the player; and the invention consists of the construction ,combination,and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section on the line 1 1, Fig. 6, showing parts of an organ mechanism disclosing features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing a modification.

features of my invention. Fig. 4 is a diagram view illustrating my invention. Fig. 5 is a view in diagram and in section and partly in elevation illustrating features of the invention. Fig. 6 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic side elevation illustrating features of my invention.

I carry out my invention as follows:

In the drawings, A represents a fresh-wind or pallet box continuously supplied with air in any suitable manner in the operation of the organ. This may constitute the great chest of the organ.

I is a wind-chest communicating with the chest A.

B is the top board above the Wind-chest.

Cisa bottom board,eonst-ructed with achaunel O.

lVithin the wind-chest B is a pneumatic, of any desired construction, (indicated at E,) which may be constructed in conformity with the pouch-pneumatic described and shown in Letters Patent of the United States granted to me November30,1897, No. 594:,391, although I do not, however, limit myself to any par- $erial No. 683,164. (No model.)

tieular construction of said pneumatic in this instance. V

F is a chest-bar in the wind-chest B, constructed with an exhaust-channel F, communicating with the channel 0' in the bottom board 0 and with the interior of the adjacent pneumatic E. Said chest-board is also construeted with a wind-channel F communicating with the wind-chest B and with an adjacent pipe D, the comm unicatiou of the channel F with the wind-chest B being governed by a pallet or valve E, forming a part of the pneumatic E. The pallet box or chest A communicates with the channel 0 through openings a, leading into a suitable channel A, I

communicating with the channel 0. The channel A exhausts through openings at. These parts above described may be of any desired construction.

Valves G G upon a valve-rod G control the openings a and a, respectively.

My invention contemplates employing an electromagnet H, to the armature H of which are connected valves h and h, controlling communication through an opening A leading through one side of the chest A, as through the top board B thereof.

J is a pneumatic communicating through a channel 0. into the opening A It will be evident that when the valve h is unseated by the attraction of the armature the pneumatic is permitted to exhaust through the channel a and opening A, the valve h being seated. On the other hand, when the valve his seated and the valve h is opened the pneumatic is inflated, the chest A communicating into the channel a The pneumatic J is also prefer ably provided with a bleed-hole (indicated in dotted lines atj) to aid in supplying the pneumatic with air. With the pneumatic J is connected a rod K. As shown in Fig. 1, the rod K is arranged to actuate a lever L, made of conducting material, and which may be fulerumed, as at c, said lever being made of metal and forming an electrical conductor. The lower end of the rod K may be guided in any suitable manner, as in a bracket-arm A Upon the rod K, Fig. 1, are shown adjusting buttons or nuts 7c, which may be threaded upon said rod to govern the reciprocation of the rod and its engagement with the lever L.

To actuate the valve-rods G in the form shown in Fig. 1 I provide additional pneu- 1n atics a with which said rods are connected, said pneumatics a exhausting through channels a in the top board B the exhaust being controlled by a valve M, connected, as by a rod m, with the lever L, so that as the inner rod of said lever is lifted by the exhaustion of the pneumatic J the valve M will be opened to permit the pneumatics a to exhaust, thereby closing the valves G and opening the valves G. A spring M may be employed to assist in closing the valve M. It will be understood that there are as manypneumatics a as there are keys to the corresponding keyboard. Air returns to the pneumatics a through bleedholes a. (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.)

N denotes electrical contacts or wires,which lead by way of binding-screws (indicated at n) and by conductors N to a switch mechanism, as shown, and which contacts cut in or outthecorrespondingcouplers. (Notshown) The contacts N may be guided in a kerfed or slotted bracket N, in which they have a movable engagement. The free extremities of the contacts or wires N are led adjacent to the outer end of the lever L, which lever may be provided with a transverse contact-bar L of any desired length, so as to permit electrical contact being formed thereby with several contact-Wires N when the lever L is actuated by the pneumatic J.

It will be understood that there are as many electromagnets H as there are keys on the corresponding keyboard. Obviously when the valve 71 is seated the pneumatic J is inflated, thereby throwing down the rod K and actuating the lever L to break electrical contact with the wires N, which go to the couplers; but it will be seen that whether the couplers are drawn or not the exhaustion of the pneumatic J will form contact between the lever L and the contacts or wires N, whereby said contacts are constantly kept clean. The adjacent extremities of the contacts Nand the contact-bar L are preferably so shaped as to form a sliding contact the one with the other every time the magnet is electrically actuated.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a modification in the electrical action wherein the lever L, here inbefore described, is dispensed with and the rod K is connected directly with the rod G by an intervening non-conducting contactbar Q, provided, preferably, with a series of contact-pins, as at g. In this modified form of construction fixed coupler-bars R are provided, having connected therewith metal contact-arms r, projecting into the pathway of the pins (1 on the bar Q in such a manner that when the bar Q is lifted by the exhaustion of the pneumatic J electrical contacts will be formed with the said contact-arms 7, which are made of suitable metal. The exhaustion of the pneumatic J, Fig. 2, not only makes the electrical contacts described, but also obviously actuates the valves G and G, connected in this instance with the bar Q. The two modifications herein shown and described, it will be seen, embody the same principle of action, and in both when the couplers are not drawn the points of electrical contact are kept perfectly clean by the operation of the magnet, the lifting of the bar Q by the operation of the magnet bringing the pins into contact with the arms 4' even if the coupler is not drawn, as in playing the great organ, causing the pins (1 to work against the arms 1", and thereby keep the contacts clean until it is desired to draw the coupler, the parts being constantly ready for perfect and sure electrical contacts.

In order to combine a tubular action with the electrical action already described, so that either action may be employed at the will of the player when desired, tubes T may be connected into the channel a Fig. 2, or into the channel a Fig. 1, into which chan-' nel a the channels a communicate. The tubes T may be led in proximity to keys S, controlling the tubular action, a valve V being employed connected with the corresponding key, as by a rod S, to govern the exhaust of the tube T through an opening 25. It will be evident that when a key is depressed the corresponding valve V is opened, letting the wind out of the tube T, permitting the corresponding pneumatic to exhaust, closing the ports a, and opening the ports a. The inflation of the corresponding pneumatic lets the wind into the channel A when the key is restored to normal position, the valve V being closed,and the wind returns through the bleedholej into the pneumatic. By this construction the organ can be used by the electrical action or by the tubular action at the will of the player. When the tubular action is employed, I employ a guide k preferably constructed in the same manner as the valve h, but serving a different purpose, said guide being covered with a cap (indicated at H Fig. 2) to prevent the wind being exhausted from the wind or pallet box A when the corresponding valve V is opened. Vithout this cap H it is obvious that when air exhausts through the tube T, communicating with the channel a air would also exhaust from the chest A into the channel (t the guide h" being open. "When the armature H is not in a closed electrical circuit in a combined electrical and tubular action, the cap H is continuously employed, the same not requiring to be applied or removed whenever the organist Wishes to change from one action to another. This cap is fitted tight in place, and the pneumatic returns by leakage through the small hole therein. The guide h is employed to prevent the armature striking the cores of the magnet, the guide being covered with leather on the top thereof. In the electrical operation of the device when a key is pressed electrical contact is made, operating the magnet H, lifting its armature, and letting the wind out of the corresponding pneumatic. Where the tubular action is employed, the same result is attained also by the depression of the key.

The switch mechanism, it will be understood, has as many wires leading to it as there are keys. In the switch mechanism shown in Fig. 5 coupler-bars 4 are provided with electrical conductor-arms 5. The conductors N are led from the chest A to corresponding binding-posts 6, with which the corresponding contact-arms 5 may make electrical contact when actuated by any suitable means, as by pneumatics 7, for example, the contactarms 5 and the binding-posts 6 forming the switch mechanism. The coupler-bars 4 are located in a swell-chest A and the arms 5 are electrically connected with conductors 8, whichlead toa junction-plate, as shown. The pneumatics 7 are provided each with a rod 25, engaged with a corresponding contactarm 5 to actuate said arm and bring it into contact with the corresponding binding-post 6.

W is a battery in the electrical circuit.

Y is a switch in the circuit, which circuit may be controlled by a coupler 21. By this means I am enabled to couple the swell-chest to the great-organ chest.

P denotes a battery-plate electrically connected with the fulcrum-rod of the lever L and with said lever.

P denotes a continuous plate in a battery circuit for operating the electromagnets H, said plate preferably being of alength to correspond to the whole number of keys, every electromagnet II being connected to this plate P at one pole thereof, as by a conductor 1. The battery is also in circuit with said plate P, as by a conductor 9. Aseparate plate P is also electrically connected with the corresponding magnet H, as by an electrical conductor 2, the plate P being also connected with the battery through electrical conductor 3, a switch 10 being located in the condnctor 3, the switch 10 being actuated in any suitable manner by a corresponding key 20. It will be perceived that by depressing a key 20 connection is made through the conductor 9, junction-plate P, and conductors 1 with the magnet and thence through the plates P with the battery. By this mechanism when the proper connections are made the swell and the great organ may both be played in unison. The lever L will contact with the contacts N before the pneumatics a exhaust, and the coupler being drawn the swell and the great organ will work together in unison.

An electromagnet H may be employed to govern the operation of the pneumatic 7, said electromagnet II controlling a valve 11 in a wind-box 12, provided with pneumatic 13, operating valves 14, which control communication of the box 12 through a channel 15 to the pneumatic 7. I

The electromagnet H governs the passage of wind from the wind-box Z through the channel O to swell-chest B, Fig. 1, by means of a valve 16, operated by said magnet controlling the operation of the pneumaticllwng a valve 18, controlling the communication of the wind box or chest Z to the channel 0.

The numeral 22 indicates additional junction-plates. These additional j unction-plates serve to connect the wires for the different coupler mechanisms.

The mechanism connected with the windbox A is played with one set of keys, While the said set of keys may also actuate the mechanism connected with the wind-box Z. The mechanism connected with the latter windboX, however, may be played with an additional set of keys, (indicated at the numeral 19.) \Vhen the organist plays from any other set of keys than those operating the great chest, the contacts L and N are open. When the proper coupler is drawn, however, the player may play the mechanism shown in Fig. 5, together with the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

It will be understood that duplicates of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 5 may be employed. Thus the wind-box Z might constitute a swell-chest, while Z" would be a duplicate of the mechanism of the swell-chest Z to constitute a choir-chest. So, also, the windbox A, as already described, may constitute the great organ-chest, While a duplicate construction A may constitute a pedal-chest. The reference-letters S T P may indicate the circuit from the swellchest Z to the pedalchest A, S T G the circuit from the swellchest Z to the great chest A, O T P the circuit from the choir-chest to the pedal-chest, O T G the circuit from the choir-chest to the great chest, and G T P the circuit from the great chest to the pedal-chest. In this manner the player is enabled to couple the choir-chest to the great chest and the swell-chest to the great chest, and by operating the proper coupler connecting the great chest to the pedal-chest the player can play all the lower notes of the three manuals from the pedal-keyboard.

The wires N at the lower right-hand corner of Fig. 1 all run to the coupler-box (indicated in Fig. 5) and may be of any desired number. As indicated in Fig. 7, some of the conductors N running to the coupler-box, lead from the pedalchest A.

The tubular and electrical action are not designed to be played alternately; but an organ so constructed may be played either by electrical or tubular action. With an organ built in this manner I am enabled to have different keyboards, one governing the electrical action and another the tubular action, the one not interfering with the other. Thus the keyboard nearest the organ might govern the tubular action, while an additional electrically-connected keyboard might be located at a distance. The two are not designed to be used together nor alternately, but either at will. The keys 10 and 20 might be arranged one above the other.

P denotes a conductor'leading from the battery-wire to the lever L or to the contactbar Q in the modification shown in Fig. 2.

The pneumatic 7 does not operate all the coupler-bars, but there must be a pneumatic and a rod 25 for each coupler-bar.

It will be apparent that there are two independent circuits in the mechanism hereinbefore described and illustrated in connection herewith and an intermediate pneumatic controlled by one of said circuits and controlling the other of said circuits in the manner set forth.

Certain features of the train of mechanism herewith shown and described may conveniently be termed an electropneumatdelectric mechanism.

It will be seen that the invention is designed to equip an organ both with electrical and tubular actions, so that the organist can use either at will. As is Well known, it is quite common to build organs with two sets of keyboards; but where the keyboard is at a distance from the pipes it is impossible to play the organ by the tubular action, as such an action would be too slow, and resort must therefore be had to an electric action for the more distant keyboard. By employing the tubular action in connection with the electrical action whenever the tubular action is employed the expense of the electric current is avoided. The other features of the organ, however, are common to either action, as the pipes, the chests, the valves governing the communications of the chests to the pipes, the exhaust-valves, (be. There are the same communications from the chests to the exhausts and to the pipes, which communications may be controlled by either the electrical or tubular action. The efficiency and economy of the invention are apparent. Should it be desiredin building an organ, for example-to place a keyboard in a chancel and another keyboard in the gallery, the keyboard in the chancel might bringinto use a tubular action, while the keyboard in the gallery might be connected with the electrical action. F urthermore, some prefer the tubular action to electrical action, especially when the keyboard is near the organ, and vice versa. Yet it is the same organ played either by the tubular or the electrical action, as provided for within the scope of my invention.

It is obvious that the devices in the chest A and the actuating devices connected therewith constitute a coupler mechanism,

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In an organ, the combination with a windbox provided with a wind-channel communicable therewith, of a pneumatic, valves actuated by said pneumatic to control the communication of the wind-box with said channel, and the exhaust from said channel, an electromagnet to control the operation of said pneumatic, and a key-controlled wind-pipe also to control said pneumatic, whereby said valves may be controlled by the electromagnet, or by the wind-pipe, at the will of the operator, substantially as set forth.

2. In an organ,the combination with a windbox provided with a series of wind-channels communicable therewith, of valves to govern the communication of the wind-box with each of said channels and the exhaust from said channels,electropneumato-electric mech anism consisting of a series of pneumatics; and electromagnets connected therewith to control said pneumatics, a series of additional pneumatics controlled by the first named pneumatics to actuate said valves, key-controlled wind pipes to control said additional pneumatics, and electrical circuits governed by the first-named pneumatics to control other parts of the organ, substantially as set forth' 3. In an organ,the combination with a windbox provided with a series of channels communicable therewith, of pneumatics communicating with corresponding channels, an additional series of wind-channels communicable with the wind-box, valves to govern the communication of the corresponding lastnamed channels with the wind-box and the exhaust therefrom, additional pneumatics to actuate said valves, electromagnets to control each of the first-named channels and thereby to control the corresponding pneumatics, means whereby the additional pneumatics are governed by the first-named pneumatics, electrical circuits to control other parts of the organ, electrical contacts within said wind-box, and means within said windbox actuated by the first-named pneumatics to open and close the corresponding electrical circuit through said contacts, substantially as set forth.

4. In an organ,the combination withawindbox provided with a series of wind-channels communicable therewith, of valves to control the communication of said Windbox with each of said channels and the exhaust from said channels, a series of pneumatics, electromagnets to control the operation of said pneumatics, electrical circuits governing other parts of the organ mechanism, electrical contacts, means actuated by said pneumatics to open and close the corresponding electrical circuits through said contacts, an additional series of pneumatics to actuate said valves, and governable by the first-named pneumatics, and key-controlled wind-pipes to control the additional series of pneumatics, substantially as set forth.

5. In an organ,the combination withawindbox provided with a series of channels communicable therewith, of a series of pneumatics, valves governed by said pneumatics to control the communication of said windbox with said channels and the exhaust from said channels, an additional series of pneumatics to actuate said valves, means whereby the additional pneumatics are governed by the first-named pneumatics, electromagnets to control the operation of the first-named pneumatics, electrical circuits governing other parts of the organ mechanism, contacts within said wind-box to govern each of said electrical circuits, and devices actuated by the first-named pneumatics to open and close said contacts, said devices actuating said contacts in the operation of the organ whether the organ-couplers are closed or open and whereby said contacts are kept clean, substantially as set forth.

6. In a combined electrical and tubular action for pipe-organs, the combination with a wind-box provided with a series of channels communicable therewith, of valves governing the communication of the wind-box with each of said channels, an electrical circuit, electrical contacts within said box, electromagnets to control said contacts, pneumatics controlled by said magnets governing the operation of said contacts and thereby controlling said circuit, and additional pneumatics controlled by the first-named pneumatics to actuate said valves, and tubular mechanism to control said additional pneumatics, whereby said valves may be controlled electrically or pneumatically at the will of the operator, substantially as set forth.

'7. In an organ,the combination with a windbox provided with a wind-channel communicating therewith, of a key-controlled pneumatic, valves governed by said pneumatic to control the communication of said channel with the wind-box and the exhaust from said channel, an electrical circuit, electrical contacts within said box to govern said circuit, and a movable device controlled by said pneumatic to simultaneously govern said contacts and to actuate said valves, substantially as set forth.

8. In an organ,the combination with a windbOX provided with a series of wind-channels communicating therewith, a series of pneumatics, coupler-controlled electrical circuits governed by said pneumatics, electrical mechanism arranged to control said pneumatics, an additional series of pneumatics governed by the first-named pneu matics, tubular mechanism to govern said additional series of pneumatics, valves actuated by said additional series of pneumatics to control the comm unication of each of said channels with the windbox and the exhaust from said channels, whereby said valves may be controlled either electrically or by the tubular mechanism at the will of the operator, substantially as set forth.

9. In an organ,the combination with a wind box provided with a series of wind-channels communicating therewith, of valves governing said communication and the exhaust from said channels, coupler-controlled electrical circuits, pneumatics governing said circuits, key-controlled electromagnets to govern said pneumatics, an additional series of pneumatics governed by said first-named pneumatics to actuate said valves, and key-controlled wind-pipes to govern the last-named pneumatics, whereby said valves may be controlled by the magnets or by the wind-pipes at the will of the operator, substantially as set forth.

10. In an organ, the combination with a wind-box provided with a wind-channel com municatin g therewith,of valves governing the communication and the exhaust from said channel, a coupler-controlled electrical circuit,electrical contacts in said circuit,apneumatic governing said circuit, an electroma net governing said pneumatic, an additional pneumatic governed by the first-named pneu matic, and a key-controlled wind-pipe also controlling said additional pneumatic, whereby said valves may be controlled either by the magnet or by the wind-pipe at the will of the operator, substantially as set forth.

11. In an organ, the combination of a windbox provided with a wind-channel communicating therewith,of valves to control said communication and the exhaust from said channel, a coupler-controlled electrical circuit, key-controlled electrical mechanism to control said valves and said circuit, and a keycontrolled wind pipe to also govern said valves, whereby the valves may be controlled either by the electrical mechanism or by the Wind-pipe, at the will of the operator, substantially as set forth.

12. In an organ, the combination of a Windchest, an additional wind-chest, a key-controlled electrical circuit connecting said chests, coupler mechanism to control said circuit, and a stop-controlled means to govern the coupler mechanism, whereby both said chests may be played in unison or separately at the will of the player, substantiallly as set forth.

13. In an organ, the combination of a great chest, a swcll-chest,a key-controlled electrical circuit connecting said chests, coupler mechanism to control said circuit, and a stop-controlled pneumatic to govern said coupler mechanism, whereby both said chests may be played in unison, substantially as set forth.

14. In an organ, the combination of a windchest, an additional wind-chest, a key-controlled electrical circuit connecting said chests, coupler mechanism governing' said circuit,and means to govern the coupler mechanism, substantially as set forth.

15. In an organ, the combination of a wind chest, additional swell-chests, electrical circuits connecting said chests, coupler mechanism governing said circuits, and means to govern the coupler mechanism, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses:

\VILLIAM B. FLEMING.

Witnesses:

NEWELL S. WRIGHT, MARY I-IIOKEY.

IIO 

